2025 NFL Free Agency

[David Ciembronowicz]

Imagine being so stupid that you could watch Gutekunst crush it in FA for years and decide that his signings are bad because of a headline.

Read the article written by a GB Packer afficianado, all based on their history of injury, play and ranking by position. Not arguing but until performance is there have to question the amount of money spent on players that don't stack up as above avg. historically. Not to mention no willingness to fix the DL in FA or get a #1 WR (though that was questionable in FA). Will they in the draft, not likely at 23 but hopefully they do better than the Morgan and Van Ness selections, trading down might be the best scenario considering few actual #1's in this draft.

 

[tynimiller]

Few updates incase folks missed some that might interest you:

Joey Bosa - signing 1 year deal for $12.6M with Bills
Roy Lopez DT gets $4.65M from the Lions
Demarcus Robinson WR - Niners sign for $9.5M on a two year deal
Eric Stokes CB - gets $4M from the Raiders. (wish him well!)

 

[tynimiller]

I will say Dante Fowler could be that edge guy that mixes ability and affordability. He's essentially signed three straight years one year prove it deals, continually does solid and then this last year for the Commanders had one of his best years yet.

30 years old yes, but doesn't appear to be hitting a wall like many do around this time...had more snaps last year than Rashan (albeit not by much). A McDuffie level type two year deal would be sweet + give him some sack incentives to sweeten it.

 

[Thirteen Below]

This is all one needs to read about GB FA decisions:

Packers Grossly ‘Overpay’ for Free Agents Aaron Banks, Nate Hobbs​

I saw that "article" a few days ago, and by the second paragraph, was actually laughing out loud. It was like a Reddit post by some high school kid who knows absolutely nothing about our team (and even less than nothing about how the contracts are structured), and probably on a Vikings or Bears board.

Here’s an interesting Tidbit that aligns with this topic.
The Packers are #5 Biggest Spenders in FA…. Or are they?

Minnesota Vikings ($263 million)
New England Patriots ($223 million)
New York Giants ($192 million)
Seattle Seahawks ($151 million)
Green Bay ($148.3 million)

Patriots ($129.4 million) guaranteed
58% guaranteed

Giants ($92 million) guaranteed
48% guaranteed

Seahawks ($80 million) guaranteed
53% guaranteed

Packers ($23.6 million) guaranteed
15.9% guaranteed!

And that's the whole thing right there. Blows the whole "grossly overpaid" argument completely to smithareens (whatever the hell a smithareen even is; I should look that up one of these days). This was a masterpiece by Gutekunst and Ball, given our needs, who we have in the system who will quite possibly develop over the next year or two, and who Gutekunst intends to target in the draft.

Honestly, I keep thinking it was the players who got royally screwed. I don't understand how we got away with it. Hobbes' cap hit this year is only $6 million.

Not arguing but until performance is there have to question the amount of money spent on players that don't stack up as above avg.

But the key is, we didn't actually spend it. It's mostly backloaded, and if these guys want to earn more of the longer term money, they're going to need to perform at a high level this season. And even then, they'll probably have to restructure next spring.

I think Ball drove a hard bargain here. I do understand and agree that on the face of it, the initial numbers look like we overpaid, but all that really matters is the cap hit and the guaranteed money. Because the rest will be restructured, or they'll be released or even traded as some of our younger players develop.

 

[Thirteen Below]

Not to mention no willingness to fix the DL in FA or get a #1 WR (though that was questionable in FA). Will they in the draft, not likely at 23 but hopefully they do better than the Morgan and Van Ness selections...

Well, you can't fix everything at once; my guess is Gute had a list of priorities, along with list likely FA targets, and as the day developed he felt the best use of his cap space was those two guys at those two price points.

Could very well be that DL and WR were actually his top two priorities, but as the day went one, he didn't see anyone at the price he was willing to pay, so he moved on down the list to OL and CB, and now has a Plan B to fill those needs in the draft or later in FA - when the feeding frenzy lets up and prices become more reasonable. Or in a trade. Some of those contracts the other day were just crazy high; it gets cheaper as the players come to realize they don't have as many options as they did the first couple of days.

trading down might be the best scenario considering few actual #1's in this draft.

Some of the rest of us have wondered about that too. Gutekunst has never traded out of the 1st altogether, but he has made like about 6 trades up or trades down in his 7 drafts, so I think it's a lot more likely that he'll trade his first rounder than stand pat at 23.

And this could very well be the year he trades out altogether. As you say, pickings look a little slim at #23 this year, and right now we only have 7 picks - plus maybe 1 or 2 comps. He loves going into the draft with lots of extra ammo, so this might be a good year to trade down to the 2nd and grab some Day 3 picks.

 

[shockerx]

Well, you can't fix everything at once; my guess is Gute had a list of priorities, along with list likely FA targets, and as the day developed he felt the best use of his cap space was those two guys at those two price points.

Could very well be that DL and WR were actually his top two priorities, but as the day went one, he didn't see anyone at the price he was willing to pay, so he moved on down the list to OL and CB, and now has a Plan B to fill those needs in the draft or later in FA - when the feeding frenzy lets up and prices become more reasonable. Or in a trade. Some of those contracts the other day were just crazy high; it gets cheaper as the players come to realize they don't have as many options as they did the first couple of days.


Some of the rest of us have wondered about that too. Gutekunst has never traded out of the 1st altogether, but he has made like about 6 trades up or trades down in his 7 drafts, so I think it's a lot more likely that he'll trade his first rounder than stand pat at 27.

And this could very well be the year he trades out altogether. As you say, pickings look a little slim at #27 this year, and right now we only have 7 picks - plus maybe 1 or 2 comps. He loves going into the draft with lots of extra ammo, so this might be a good year to trade down to the 2nd and grab some Day 3 picks.

We have the 23rd pick...did we trade out of that?

 

[Thirteen Below]

We have the 23rd pick...did we trade out of that?

Oh, jeez, no.... I'm sorry.... yeah, damn.... thanks for catching that; I'll go back and edit real quick-like to save a half-dozen other people from having to bust me...

Edit: looks like I made it in time; I owe you a solid.

 

[El Guapo]

Supply and demand applies to the NFL draft too. So in a year without a lot of solid 1st round picks, there is not a lot of demand for first round picks. Therefore you won't get many offers (if any) and certainly won't get the bang for the buck teams want when trading down.

The year to trade down is when the draft is loaded with media and draft darlings.

 

[Schultz]

Read the article written by a GB Packer afficianado, all based on their history of injury, play and ranking by position. Not arguing but until performance is there have to question the amount of money spent on players that don't stack up as above avg. historically. Not to mention no willingness to fix the DL in FA or get a #1 WR (though that was questionable in FA). Will they in the draft, not likely at 23 but hopefully they do better than the Morgan and Van Ness selections, trading down might be the best scenario considering few actual #1's in this draft.

Getting a number 1 WR in FA or trade would have added an extra tone to the boldness of OVERPAYING in the headline IMO. As far as DL this draft is loaded.

 

[Thirteen Below]

Supply and demand applies to the NFL draft too. So in a year without a lot of solid 1st round picks, there is not a lot of demand for first round picks. Therefore you won't get many offers (if any) and certainly won't get the bang for the buck teams want when trading down.

True enough, as a rule. But you never know.... the 22nd pick could be on the clock, and the #27 team wants to move up to 23 because they think one of the teams ahead of them want the guy they targeted. We, on the other hand, have 4 or 5 guys rated pretty equally, so we make the deal.

That's supposedly how we got Love - Gute wanted Brandon Ayuk, but he was sure the Vikings were going to take him, and they picked just ahead of us. Turned out the 6=49ers took Ayuk first, but Gutekunst decided to keep the deal anyway, and took Love.

Strange things can happen.

 

[Dantés]

Read the article written by a GB Packer afficianado, all based on their history of injury, play and ranking by position. Not arguing but until performance is there have to question the amount of money spent on players that don't stack up as above avg. historically. Not to mention no willingness to fix the DL in FA or get a #1 WR (though that was questionable in FA). Will they in the draft, not likely at 23 but hopefully they do better than the Morgan and Van Ness selections, trading down might be the best scenario considering few actual #1's in this draft.

If you aren’t giving Gutekunst the benefit of the doubt in free agency, you’re not paying attention.

 

[tynimiller]

History has proven that Gute has pretty much been nearly 100% when it comes to investing real money in guys in Free Agency - especially when it's the guys second contract.

 

[Sanguine camper]

This is all one needs to read about GB FA decisions:

Packers Grossly ‘Overpay’ for Free Agents Aaron Banks, Nate Hobbs​

The pay really depends on the structure of the contract and how long the player actually suits up. Both players are young and entering their prime. Hobbs is 25 and Banks is 27. Like the Smiths, Amos, Xavier and Jacobs, Gute signed guys on the upside of their career. That said, their chances of sticking around long enough to make those contracts fiscally sound should be very good.

 

[tynimiller]

MVS gets $5.5M from Seattle - not going to lie Darnold throws a good deep ball. I hope my guy continues to **** off haters and has a year (NEVER against us though).

 

[Heyjoe4]

MVS gets $5.5M from Seattle - not going to lie Darnold throws a good deep ball. I hope my guy continues to **** off haters and has a year (NEVER against us though).

If all Gluten is looking to do is replace Watson's speed, then a draft pick is probably the way to go. MVS was certainly a dart when he was here, and in KC. I just don't know if he can still easily outrun corners on long routes.

Right now, I don't feel strongly either way about MVS. When it comes down to speed as the primary characteristic, I'd rather take a rookie. The Packers are gonna have to find a way to win without Watson's deep threat. Free agency is a non-starter, so Gluten will need to do some savvy drafting. He's certainly capable of that.

 

[tynimiller]

If all Gluten is looking to do is replace Watson's speed, then a draft pick is probably the way to go. MVS was certainly a dart when he was here, and in KC. I just don't know if he can still easily outrun corners on long routes.

Right now, I don't feel strongly either way about MVS. When it comes down to speed as the primary characteristic, I'd rather take a rookie. The Packers are gonna have to find a way to win without Watson's deep threat. Free agency is a non-starter, so Gluten will need to do some savvy drafting. He's certainly capable of that.

MVS still can for sure. His average depth of target was 17.8....TONS of receivers don't even get over 12 let alone 10.
He also set his own personal record in yards per reception at 22.6. He ha snow broke 20 yards per reception three times.

 

[OldSchool101]

Read the article written by a GB Packer afficianado, all based on their history of injury, play and ranking by position. Not arguing but until performance is there have to question the amount of money spent on players that don't stack up as above avg. historically. Not to mention no willingness to fix the DL in FA or get a #1 WR (though that was questionable in FA). Will they in the draft, not likely at 23 but hopefully they do better than the Morgan and Van Ness selections, trading down might be the best scenario considering few actual #1's in this draft.

Well our Day 1 selections have Been dramatically in favor of Defense and across a pretty large sample size. Just in Gute’s short tenure it’s
2 O
7 D
One was a QB which won’t happen again anytime soon.


So your wish of a DL may come true!

 

[Heyjoe4]

MVS still can for sure. His average depth of target was 17.8....TONS of receivers don't even get over 12 let alone 10.
He also set his own personal record in yards per reception at 22.6. He ha snow broke 20 yards per reception three times.

Hmmm. I wonder what Gluten saw, or didn't see, to take a pass. $5.4 mil is a little rich, but not enough to do a deal if the desire is there. Clearly he can still get deep.

 

[tynimiller]

Hmmm. I wonder what Gluten saw, or didn't see, to take a pass. $5.4 mil is a little rich, but not enough to do a deal if the desire is there. Clearly he can still get deep.

I was personally not willing to go above $3.5/$4M on him unless incentive tied.

 

[mradtke66]

Well our Day 1 selections have Been dramatically in favor of Defense and across a pretty large sample size. Just in Gute’s short tenure it’s
2 O
7 D
One was a QB which won’t happen again anytime soon.


So your wish of a DL may come true!

The split doesn't surprise me too much. The most-premium positions are QB, LT, CB, and Pass rusher (whatever position that ends up being.) The only exception to that list that Gute has taken in the 1st is Quay Walker.

 

[tynimiller]

I’m so sad.

Dillon signing with Eagles. Love that guy.

 

[tynimiller]

It’s not even that we didn’t sign him, dude just loves Wisconsin so much and I was clinging to hope that somehow we would do same low deal as last year

 

[Schultz]

Can you imagine Quadzilla being the new **** pusher?

 

[PackerDNA]

I’m so sad.

Dillon signing with Eagles. Love that guy.

All the best to him. A great guy who always carried the G with class.